Lever-type connector

This application is a national phase of PCT application No. PCT/JP2022/009333, filed on 4 Mar. 2022, which claims priority from Japanese patent application No. 2021-048359, filed on 23 Mar. 2021, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The technique disclosed by the present specification relates to a lever-type connector.

Conventionally, a connector is known that has a fitting detection function for detecting whether or not a male housing and a female housing are properly fitted with each other. As such a connector, a connector has been proposed in which marks composed of a plurality of linear protrusions and recesses are disposed on the surfaces of the male housing and the female housing, respectively. The surface of each protrusion is polished to have a different light reflectance from the other surfaces of the housing. After the male housing and the female housing are fitted together, the light sensor detects reflected light from each protrusion. By analyzing the data of the detected reflected light, it is determined whether or not the two housings are properly fitted together (see Patent Document 1).

It is conceivable to record that the two connectors are properly fitted together by reading, with a reading device, the marks provided on the two connectors to be fitted to each other using the above configuration. However, in the above configuration, there is concern that the acquired data of the reflected light from the protrusions will become unstable due to manufacturing tolerances in the shapes of the protrusions, molding defects during manufacturing, chipping of the protrusions after manufacturing, rattling that occurs when fitting together the housings, and the like.

A lever-type connector disclosed by the present embodiment includes: a connector housing that has a first code arrangement surface and is configured to be fitted with a partner connector; a lever configured to be attached so as to be rotatable from a fitting start position to a fitting completion position with respect to the connector housing, and having a second code arrangement surface configured to be arranged on the same plane as the first code arrangement surface when the lever is at the fitting completion position; a first divided code arranged on the first code arrangement surface; and a second divided code arranged on the second code arrangement surface, in which when the lever is at the fitting completion position, the first divided code and the second divided code are adjacent to each other and form a two-dimensional code.

According to the lever-type connector disclosed by this specification, it is possible to accurately record that the lever-type connector has been properly fitted with the partner connector.

(1) A lever-type connector disclosed by the present embodiment includes: a connector housing that has a first code arrangement surface and is configured to be fitted with a partner connector; a lever configured to be attached so as to be rotatable from a fitting start position to a fitting completion position with respect to the connector housing, and having a second code arrangement surface configured to be arranged on the same plane as the first code arrangement surface when the lever is at the fitting completion position; a first divided code arranged on the first code arrangement surface; and a second divided code arranged on the second code arrangement surface, in which when the lever is at the fitting completion position, the first divided code and the second divided code are adjacent to each other and form a two-dimensional code.

According to the above configuration, the two-dimensional code can be read when the lever is at the fitting completion position, and therefore it is possible to accurately record that the lever-type connector has been properly fitted with the partner connector.

(2) In the lever-type connector of (1) above, both the first code arrangement surface and the second code arrangement surface may be surfaces that are visible from the outside in both a state where the lever is at the fitting start position and a state where the lever is at the fitting completion position.

According to such a configuration, the first divided code arranged on the first code arrangement surface and the second divided code arranged on the second code arrangement surface are always visible, and therefore, by visually confirming whether or not the positions of the first divided code and the second divided code are shifted from each other, it is possible to determine whether or not the fitting between the lever-type connector and the partner connector is complete, and the task of fitting the lever-type connector and the partner connector can be performed more smoothly.

(3) In the lever-type connector of (1) or (2) above, one of the connector housing and the lever may include a lock portion, and the other may include a lock receiving portion configured to hold the lever at the fitting completion position by engaging with the lock portion when the lever is at the fitting completion position.

According to such a configuration, the first divided code and the second divided code are inhibited from undergoing a positional shift due to rattling of the lever with respect to the connector housing in the direction of rotation to the fitting start position. This avoids a situation in which the two-dimensional code cannot be read even though the lever is at the fitting completion position.

(4) In the lever-type connector of any one of (1) to (3) above, the connector housing includes a first corner portion formed by the first code arrangement surface and a first opposing surface adjacent to the first code arrangement surface, the first corner portion having an angular shape, and the lever includes a second corner portion formed by the second code arrangement surface and a second opposing surface that is adjacent to the second code arrangement surface and is configured to come into contact with the first opposing surface when the lever is at the fitting completion position, the second corner portion having an angular shape.

According to such a configuration, when the lever is at the fitting completion position, the first code arrangement surface and the second code arrangement surface are adjacent to each other without a gap, and therefore the first divided code and the second divided code are adjacent to each other without a gap and form the two-dimensional code. This makes it possible to reliably read the two-dimensional code.

A specific example of the technique disclosed in this specification will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these illustrations, but is indicated by the scope of the claims, and all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims are intended to be encompassed therein.

An embodiment will be described with reference to. A lever-type connectorof the present embodiment is a connector that fits with a partner connectorhaving cam followers, and as shown in, includes a connector housing, and a leverattached to the connector housing.

Connector Housing

The connector housingis made of synthetic resin and, as shown in, includes a block-shaped first terminal holding portionfor holding terminal fittings, a rectangular tube-shaped hood portionthat extends from the first terminal holding portionand inside of which the partner connectoris received, and two rotation shafts. As shown in, the hood portionhas two attachment wallsA andB that are parallel to each other. The outer surfaces of the two attachment wallsA,B are attachment surfacesSA,SB, respectively. As shown in, the hood portionhas a connector entry portC into which the partner connectorcan enter. As shown in, the two attachment wallsA,B each have a receiving groovethat extends from the edge of the connector entry portC and through which a corresponding cam followerof the partner connectoris inserted. As shown in, the two rotation shaftsare substantially cylindrical and are respectively arranged on the two attachment surfacesSA,SB.

Lever

The leveris a member for assisting fitting and disengagement between the connector housingand the partner connectorthrough the principle of leverage. The leveris made of synthetic resin and, as shown in, is an approximately U-shaped member that includes two cam platesA,B, and a rotation operation portionthat connects these two cam platesA,B. Since the cam plateB has the same configuration as the cam plateA except that it does not have a later-described pedestal portion, the cam plateA will be described in detail, and description of the cam plateB is omitted.

As shown in, the cam plateA includes a thick plate-shaped cam plate main bodyand a pedestal portionarranged on one surface of the cam plate main body. Part of the outer edge of the cam plate main bodyis an arc surfaceS that extends in an arc shape. The cam plate main bodyhas a shaft holefor receiving the corresponding rotation shaftand a cam groovefor receiving the corresponding cam follower. The shaft holeis a substantially circular hole passing through the cam plate main body. The cam grooveis a groove arranged on the surface of the cam plate main bodyfacing the attachment surfaceSA, and has a cam entry portA on the arc surfaceS that allows entry of the corresponding cam follower, and the cam grooveextends from this cam entry portA between the shaft holeand the arc surfaceS. The cam groovehas a substantially arcuate shape such that it gradually approaches the shaft hole, which is the rotation center of the cam plateA, as it goes inward from the cam entry portA. A linear guide ribprotrudes from the arc surfaceS.

As shown in, the rotation operation portionincludes a lock portionand two joining portions.

As shown in, the lock portionincludes two bridge portionsA,B and a lock arm. The two bridge portionsA,B are arranged spaced apart from each other, and the space between the two bridge portionsA,B is a lock space. The lock armincludes two arm portionsA that extend from one bridge portionA and are arranged spaced apart from each other, and a lock operation portionB and a lock beamC that connect the two arm portionsA, and the lock armis arranged in the lock space. With the position at which the lock armis joined to the one bridge portionA serving as a base end, the lock armcan be bent toward or away from the other bridge portionB.

As shown in, one of the two joining portionsjoins the lock portionand one cam plateA to each other, and the other joins the lock portionand the other cam plateB to each other.

The leveris attached so as to straddle the connector housing, the cam plateA is arranged along the attachment surfaceSA, the cam plateB is arranged along the attachment surfaceSB, and the rotation shaftsare respectively fit in the shaft holes. The leveris supported by the rotation shaftsso as to be able to rotate using the rotation shaftsas a rotation center, between a fitting start position (the position shown in) and a fitting completion position (the position shown in) at which the partner connectoris fitted with the connector housingat a proper fitting position.

Reinforcing WallsA,B

As shown in, the connector housingincludes a reinforcing wallA arranged on the attachment surfaceSA and a reinforcing wallB arranged on the attachment surfaceSB. Since the reinforcing wallB has the same configuration as the reinforcing wallA except that it does not have a later-described first code arrangement surfaceS, the reinforcing wallA will be described in detail, and description of the reinforcing wallB is omitted.

As shown in, the reinforcing wallA includes a main walland a guide receiving portionextending from the main wall. The main wallhas a thick plate-like shape, is adjacent to the edge of the connector entry portC, and is arranged straddling the receiving groove. As shown in, the main wallhas an insertion groovethat is in communication with the receiving grooveand receives the corresponding cam followerof the partner connector. The guide receiving portionis a ridge extending from the main walltoward the cam plateA and is arranged spaced apart from the attachment wallA. As shown in, a space between the guide receiving portionand the attachment surfaceSA is a guide recessfor receiving the guide rib.

As shown in, the outer surface of the main walland the guide receiving portionhas a flat first code arrangement surfaceSarranged parallel to the attachment surfaceSA. The first code arrangement surfaceSis a surface that is visible from the outside in both the state where the lever-type connectoris not fitted with the partner connector(the state where the leveris at the fitting start position) and the state where the fitting between the lever-type connectorand the partner connectoris complete (the state where the leveris at the fitting completion position).

Pedestal Portion

The cam plateA includes the pedestal portion. As shown in, the pedestal portionhas a flat block shape and is arranged on the surface of the cam plate main bodyopposite to the surface thereof facing the attachment surfaceSA. The outer surface of the pedestal portionhas a flat second code arrangement surfaceSarranged on the same plane as the first code arrangement surfaceS. The second code arrangement surfaceSis a surface that is visible from the outside in both the state where the lever-type connectoris not fitted with the partner connector(the state where the leveris at the fitting start position) and the state where the fitting between the lever-type connectorand the partner connectoris complete (the state where the leveris at the fitting completion position).

Two-Dimensional Code

A two-dimensional codeis arranged on the first code arrangement surfaceSand the second code arrangement surfaceS. As shown in, the two-dimensional codeis divided into a first divided codeA and a second divided codeB. The first divided codeA is arranged on the first code placement surfaceS, and the second divided codeB is arranged on the second code arrangement surfaceS. As described above, since the first code arrangement surfaceSand the second code arrangement surfaceSare surfaces that are visible from the outside in both the state where the leveris at the fitting start position and the state where the leveris at the fitting completion position, the first divided codeA and the second divided codeB are visible from the outside in both the state where the leveris at the fitting start position and the state where the leveris at the fitting completion position. In the present embodiment, the boundary line between the first code arrangement surfaceSand the second code arrangement surfaceSis located at approximately the central position between the two side edges of the two-dimensional codethat are parallel to each other, and the two-dimensional codeis divided in two along this boundary line.

When the leveris not at the fitting completion position, the pedestal portionis arranged at a position shifted with respect to the reinforcing wallA, as shown in. For this reason, the positions of the first divided codeA and the second divided codeB are shifted from each other and the two-dimensional codeis not formed.

As shown in, when the leveris at the fitting completion position, the pedestal portionis arranged adjacent to the reinforcing wallA, and the first code arrangement surfaceSand the second code arrangement surfaceSare flush with each other and adjacent to each other. As a result, the first divided codeA and the second divided codeB are adjacent to each other and form one two-dimensional code, which can be read by a scanning device.

The two-dimensional codecan be formed, for example, by performing laser printing on the surfaces of the first code arrangement surfaceSand the second code arrangement surfaceSwhile the leveris held at the fitting completion position.

Partner Connector

As shown in, the partner connectorincludes a block-shaped second terminal holding portionthat holds partner terminal fittings, and two cam followersarranged on the outer surface of the second terminal holding portion. The partner connectorhas a lock receiving portion. The lock receiving portionincludes a lock clawA that engages with the lock arm.

Fitting Between Lever-Type Connectorand Partner Connector

When the lever-type connectoris fitted with the partner connector, the leverassists the operation of fitting with the partner connectorby relatively drawing the partner connectorto the connector housingdue to the cam action between the cam groovesand the cam followersas the leveris rotated from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position.

First, the lever-type connectoris shallowly fitted with the partner connectorwhile the leveris held at the fitting start position. As shown in, the cam followersenter the cam grooves.

Next, as shown in, the leveris rotated from the fitting start position toward the fitting completion position. The rotation of the leveris guided by the movement of the guide ribinside the guide recessas the leverrotates. As the leverrotates, the connector housingis relatively drawn to the partner connectorby the cam action based on the engagement between the cam followerand the cam groove. Also, as the leverrotates, the pedestal portionrotates in a direction approaching the reinforcing wallA, and the second divided codeB rotates in a direction approaching the first divided codeA.

When the leverapproaches the fitting completion position, the lock beamC of the lock armrides up on the lock clawA, whereby the lock armis bent. When the leverreaches the fitting completion position, the connector housingreaches the proper fitting position with respect to the partner connector, as shown in. Also, the leveris held at the fitting completion position due to the lock beamC going over the lock clawA, the lock armbeing elastically restored, and the lock beamC engaging with the lock clawA.

When the leverreaches the fitting completion position, the first divided codeA and the second divided codeB are adjacent to each other and form one two-dimensional code. By reading this two-dimensional codewith a scanning device, completion of fitting is recorded in a recording device.

Here, as shown in, in the reinforcing wallA, a first corner portionC formed by the first code arrangement surfaceSand a first opposing surfaceSthat is adjacent to the first code arrangement surfaceSand opposes the pedestal portionhas an angular shape without roundness. Similarly, in the pedestal portion, a second corner portionC formed by the second code arrangement surfaceSand a second opposing surfaceSthat is adjacent to the second code arrangement surfaceSand opposes the reinforcing wallA has an angular shape without roundness. As shown in, when the leveris at the fitting completion position, the first opposing surfaceSand the second opposing surfaceSare in contact with each other, the first code arrangement surfaceSand the second code arrangement surfaceSare flush with each other and are in contact with each other without any gap, and the first divided codeA and the second divided codeB are adjacent to each other without any gap and form the two-dimensional code. As a result, the two-dimensional codecan be reliably read.

When the leverreaches the fitting completion position, the lock armis engaged with the lock receiving portion, whereby the leveris inhibited from rattling in a direction of rotating to the fitting start position with respect to the connector housing. Also, the guide ribis received inside the guide recessand comes into contact with the guide receiving portion, whereby rattling is suppressed in a direction in which the cam plateA moves away from the attachment surfaceSA, that is, in a direction in which the first code arrangement surfaceSand the second code arrangement surfaceSare shifted from the same plane. This avoids a situation in which the two divided codesA andB undergo a positional shift and the two-dimensional codecannot be read even though the leveris at the fitting completion position.

Operations and Effects

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the lever-type connectorincludes: the connector housingthat has the first code arrangement surfaceSand is to be fitted with the partner connector; the leverthat is to be attached to the connector housingso as to be rotatable from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position and has the second code arrangement surfaceSthat is arranged on the same plane as the first code arrangement surfaceSwhen the leveris at the fitting completion position; the first divided codeA arranged on the first code arrangement surfaceS; and the second divided codeB arranged on the second code arrangement surfaceS, in which when the leveris at the fitting completion position, the first divided codeA and the second divided codeB are adjacent to each other and form the two-dimensional code.

According to the above configuration, since the two-dimensional codecan be read when the leveris at the fitting completion position, it is possible to accurately record that the lever-type connectorhas been properly fitted with the partner connector.